So when we left off in our Hall of Fame study, we had found that the voting for the baseball writers had been more and more concentrated in first-ballot candidates and that the veterans had become gluttons on players who retired in the Thirties and had been progressively ignoring each decade thereafter. Now, I would like to study a few aspects of the Hall voting.

Specifically, I wonder if the 75% threshold that is used to determine whether or not candidates on the baseball writers’ ballots are enshrined is actually significant. Has there ever been a mature candidate (i.e., not first eligible in just the last few years) who received, say, 50% of the vote and yet failed to get in in subsequent elections? How about 25%? What is the highest percentage that a candidate received and yet still failed to garner enough votes down the road? Is there a lowest percentile threshold, like 50% or 25%, that can be used to determine which candidates today will eventually get in? Do these percentiles differ between the players elected by the baseball writers and those elected by the veterans (I would suspect so)? Have they changed over time? Have players been elected by the veterans who would have been dropped by the current 5% rule in the baseball writers’ vote?

Also, I would like to use a tool to evaluate players as a means to grade the elections of the past. That tool will be Win Shares, which I am aware has certain eccentricities but I feel is the best tool to evaluate all players from all positions across all eras. Do the voters actually pick the best players aside from an odd Tommy McCarthy or a Ross Youngs? Who does better, the writers or the vets? Have they changed over time? Have the best players from the past been elected, thereby justifying the writers’ focusing almost solely on the new candidates every election? And if so, should the veterans’ committee be retired? What is the cutoff, in Win Shares, for what constitutes a Hall of Famer? How have the voters adhered to that cutoff over time?

First, let’s look at the 75% rule: Here are the only players to have received 50% of the vote and not yet gained be-plaque-ment:

Year	Name	PCT
1983	Gil Hodges	63.37%
2003	Gil Hodges	61.73%
1981	Gil Hodges	60.10%
1976	Gil Hodges	60.05%
1980	Gil Hodges	59.74%
1978	Gil Hodges	59.63%
2003	Tony Oliva	59.26%
1977	Gil Hodges	58.49%
2001	Jim Rice	57.86%
1973	Gil Hodges	57.37%
2003	Ron Santo	56.79%
1979	Gil Hodges	56.02%
2002	Jim Rice	55.08%
1974	Gil Hodges	54.25%
2003	Bruce Sutter	53.63%
2003	Jim Rice	52.22%
1975	Gil Hodges	51.93%
2000	Jim Rice	51.50%
2002	Bruce Sutter	50.42%
1971	Gil Hodges	50.00%
2003	Andre Dawson	50.00%

So, basically there are a handful of candidates still on the writers’ ballot today and a few from last year’s veterans’ ballot. The only one who received 50% from the writers and is no longer on their ballot is Gil Hodges. Just because you’re paranoid, Gil, doesn’t mean that people aren’t against you. Hodges seems the most likely veterans’ choice, once they straighten themselves out. So don’t let’s cry for him yet, Argentina.

Let’s now focus on those players who have gotten into Cooperstown after getting at least 50% but not 75% of the vote in a prior election. How many years did they have to wait?:

Yr	Name	50% ballot	PCT	Elected	Elected ballot	Wait
1936	Nap Lajoie	BBWAA	64.60%	1937	BBWAA	1
1936	Tris Speaker	BBWAA	58.85%	1937	BBWAA	1
1937	Pete Alexander	BBWAA	62.19%	1938	BBWAA	1
1937	Eddie Collins	BBWAA	57.21%	1939	BBWAA	2
1937	Willie Keeler	BBWAA	57.21%	1939	BBWAA	2
1937	George Sisler	BBWAA	52.74%	1939	BBWAA	2
1938	Frank Chance	BBWAA	50.76%	1946	Old Timers	8
1938	Eddie Collins	BBWAA	66.79%	1939	BBWAA	1
1938	Ed Delahanty	BBWAA	50.38%	1945	Old Timers	7
1938	Willie Keeler	BBWAA	67.56%	1939	BBWAA	1
1938	George Sisler	BBWAA	68.32%	1939	BBWAA	1
1938	Rube Waddell	BBWAA	56.49%	1946	Old Timers	8
1939	Frank Chance	BBWAA	57.66%	1946	Old Timers	7
1939	Ed Delahanty	BBWAA	52.92%	1945	Old Timers	6
1939	Rogers Hornsby	BBWAA	64.23%	1942	BBWAA	3
1939	Rube Waddell	BBWAA	65.33%	1946	Old Timers	7
1942	Frank Chance	BBWAA	58.37%	1946	Old Timers	4
1942	Rube Waddell	BBWAA	54.08%	1946	Old Timers	4
1945	Roger Bresnahan	BBWAA	53.85%	1945	Old Timers	0
1945	Frank Chance	BBWAA	72.47%	1946	Old Timers	1
1945	Mickey Cochrane	BBWAA	50.61%	1947	BBWAA	2
1945	Johnny Evers	BBWAA	54.25%	1946	Old Timers	1
1945	Miller Huggins	BBWAA	53.85%	1964	Veterans	19
1945	Rube Waddell	BBWAA	62.35%	1946	Old Timers	1
1945	Ed Walsh	BBWAA	55.47%	1946	Old Timers	1
1946	Frank Chance	Nominating	54.75%	1946	Old Timers	0
1946	Frank Chance	BBWAA	74.26%	1946	Old Timers	0
1946	Johnny Evers	Nominating	54.46%	1946	Old Timers	0
1946	Miller Huggins	Nominating	52.48%	1964	Veterans	18
1946	Ed Walsh	Nominating	52.48%	1946	Old Timers	0
1947	Dizzy Dean	BBWAA	54.66%	1953	BBWAA	6
1947	Charlie Gehringer	BBWAA	65.22%	1949	Run Off	2
1947	Rabbit Maranville	BBWAA	56.52%	1954	BBWAA	7
1947	Herb Pennock	BBWAA	53.42%	1948	BBWAA	1
1947	Pie Traynor	BBWAA	73.91%	1948	BBWAA	1
1949	Dizzy Dean	BBWAA	57.52%	1953	BBWAA	4
1949	Jimmie Foxx	BBWAA	55.56%	1951	BBWAA	2
1949	Charlie Gehringer	BBWAA	66.67%	1949	Run Off	0
1949	Mel Ott	BBWAA	61.44%	1951	BBWAA	2
1949	Mel Ott	BBWAA	68.45%	1951	BBWAA	2
1949	Al Simmons	BBWAA	58.17%	1953	BBWAA	4
1949	Bill Terry	Run Off	52.94%	1954	BBWAA	5
1950	Dizzy Dean	BBWAA	50.60%	1953	BBWAA	3
1950	Jimmie Foxx	BBWAA	61.31%	1951	BBWAA	1
1950	Harry Heilmann	BBWAA	51.79%	1952	BBWAA	2
1950	Mel Ott	BBWAA	68.45%	1951	BBWAA	1
1950	Al Simmons	BBWAA	53.57%	1953	BBWAA	3
1950	Bill Terry	BBWAA	62.50%	1954	BBWAA	4
1950	Paul Waner	BBWAA	56.55%	1952	BBWAA	2
1951	Dizzy Dean	BBWAA	64.16%	1953	BBWAA	2
1951	Bill Dickey	BBWAA	52.21%	1954	BBWAA	3
1951	Harry Heilmann	BBWAA	67.70%	1952	BBWAA	1
1951	Al Simmons	BBWAA	51.33%	1953	BBWAA	2
1951	Bill Terry	BBWAA	65.49%	1954	BBWAA	3
1951	Paul Waner	BBWAA	71.68%	1952	BBWAA	1
1952	Dizzy Dean	BBWAA	64.96%	1953	BBWAA	1
1952	Bill Dickey	BBWAA	59.40%	1954	BBWAA	2
1952	Rabbit Maranville	BBWAA	56.84%	1954	BBWAA	2
1952	Al Simmons	BBWAA	60.26%	1953	BBWAA	1
1952	Bill Terry	BBWAA	66.24%	1954	BBWAA	2
1953	Bill Dickey	BBWAA	67.80%	1954	BBWAA	1
1953	Ted Lyons	BBWAA	52.65%	1955	BBWAA	2
1953	Rabbit Maranville	BBWAA	62.12%	1954	BBWAA	1
1953	Bill Terry	BBWAA	72.35%	1954	BBWAA	1
1953	Dazzy Vance	BBWAA	56.82%	1955	BBWAA	2
1954	Joe DiMaggio	BBWAA	69.44%	1955	BBWAA	1
1954	Gabby Hartnett	BBWAA	59.92%	1955	BBWAA	1
1954	Ted Lyons	BBWAA	67.46%	1955	BBWAA	1
1954	Dazzy Vance	BBWAA	62.70%	1955	BBWAA	1
1955	Joe Cronin	BBWAA	53.78%	1956	BBWAA	1
1955	Hank Greenberg	BBWAA	62.55%	1956	BBWAA	1
1958	Max Carey	BBWAA	51.13%	1961	Veterans	3
1960	Sam Rice	BBWAA	53.16%	1963	Veterans	3
1960	Eppa Rixey	BBWAA	52.79%	1963	Veterans	3
1960	Edd Roush	BBWAA	54.28%	1962	Veterans	2
1962	Sam Rice	BBWAA	50.63%	1963	Veterans	1
1964	Luke Appling	BBWAA	70.65%	1964	Run Off	0
1964	Roy Campanella	Run Off	61.33%	1969	BBWAA	5
1964	Roy Campanella	BBWAA	68.66%	1969	BBWAA	5
1964	Joe Medwick	BBWAA	53.73%	1968	BBWAA	4
1964	Joe Medwick	Run Off	57.78%	1968	BBWAA	4
1964	Red Ruffing	BBWAA	70.15%	1967	Run Off	3
1964	Red Ruffing	Run Off	81.78%	1967	Run Off	3
1966	Roy Campanella	BBWAA	65.23%	1969	BBWAA	3
1966	Joe Medwick	BBWAA	61.92%	1968	BBWAA	2
1967	Roy Campanella	BBWAA	55.56%	1969	BBWAA	2
1967	Roy Campanella	Run Off	69.86%	1969	BBWAA	2
1967	Joe Medwick	BBWAA	72.60%	1968	BBWAA	1
1967	Joe Medwick	Run Off	81.05%	1968	BBWAA	1
1967	Red Ruffing	BBWAA	72.60%	1967	Run Off	0
1968	Lou Boudreau	BBWAA	51.59%	1970	BBWAA	2
1968	Roy Campanella	BBWAA	72.44%	1969	BBWAA	1
1969	Lou Boudreau	BBWAA	64.12%	1970	BBWAA	1
1970	Ralph Kiner	BBWAA	55.67%	1975	BBWAA	5
1971	Yogi Berra	BBWAA	67.22%	1972	BBWAA	1
1971	Ralph Kiner	BBWAA	58.89%	1975	BBWAA	4
1971	Early Wynn	BBWAA	66.67%	1972	BBWAA	1
1972	Ralph Kiner	BBWAA	59.34%	1975	BBWAA	3
1973	Whitey Ford	BBWAA	67.11%	1974	BBWAA	1
1973	Ralph Kiner	BBWAA	61.84%	1975	BBWAA	2
1973	Robin Roberts	BBWAA	56.05%	1976	BBWAA	3
1974	Ralph Kiner	BBWAA	58.90%	1975	BBWAA	1
1974	Bob Lemon	BBWAA	52.05%	1976	BBWAA	2
1974	Robin Roberts	BBWAA	61.37%	1976	BBWAA	2
1975	Bob Lemon	BBWAA	64.36%	1976	BBWAA	1
1975	Robin Roberts	BBWAA	72.65%	1976	BBWAA	1
1976	Enos Slaughter	BBWAA	50.77%	1985	Veterans	9
1977	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	51.44%	1984	BBWAA	7
1977	Eddie Mathews	BBWAA	62.40%	1978	BBWAA	1
1977	Enos Slaughter	BBWAA	57.96%	1985	Veterans	8
1977	Duke Snider	BBWAA	55.35%	1980	BBWAA	3
1978	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	57.78%	1984	BBWAA	6
1978	Enos Slaughter	BBWAA	68.87%	1985	Veterans	7
1978	Duke Snider	BBWAA	67.02%	1980	BBWAA	2
1979	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	53.94%	1984	BBWAA	5
1979	Enos Slaughter	BBWAA	68.75%	1985	Veterans	6
1979	Duke Snider	BBWAA	71.30%	1980	BBWAA	1
1980	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	61.82%	1984	BBWAA	4
1980	Hoyt Wilhelm	BBWAA	54.29%	1985	BBWAA	5
1981	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	60.60%	1984	BBWAA	3
1981	Harmon Killebrew	BBWAA	59.60%	1984	BBWAA	3
1981	Juan Marichal	BBWAA	58.10%	1983	BBWAA	2
1981	Hoyt Wilhelm	BBWAA	59.35%	1985	BBWAA	4
1982	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	56.14%	1984	BBWAA	2
1982	Harmon Killebrew	BBWAA	59.28%	1984	BBWAA	2
1982	Juan Marichal	BBWAA	73.49%	1983	BBWAA	1
1982	Hoyt Wilhelm	BBWAA	56.87%	1985	BBWAA	3
1983	Luis Aparicio	BBWAA	67.38%	1984	BBWAA	1
1983	Don Drysdale	BBWAA	64.71%	1984	BBWAA	1
1983	Harmon Killebrew	BBWAA	71.93%	1984	BBWAA	1
1983	Hoyt Wilhelm	BBWAA	64.97%	1985	BBWAA	2
1984	Nellie Fox	BBWAA	61.04%	1997	Veterans	13
1984	Hoyt Wilhelm	BBWAA	71.96%	1985	BBWAA	1
1984	Billy Williams	BBWAA	50.12%	1987	BBWAA	3
1985	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	54.18%	1996	Veterans	11
1985	Nellie Fox	BBWAA	74.68%	1997	Veterans	12
1985	Catfish Hunter	BBWAA	53.67%	1987	BBWAA	2
1985	Billy Williams	BBWAA	63.80%	1987	BBWAA	2
1986	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	65.65%	1996	Veterans	10
1986	Catfish Hunter	BBWAA	68.00%	1987	BBWAA	1
1986	Billy Williams	BBWAA	74.12%	1987	BBWAA	1
1987	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	69.98%	1996	Veterans	9
1988	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	74.24%	1996	Veterans	8
1989	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	63.31%	1996	Veterans	7
1989	Fergie Jenkins	BBWAA	52.35%	1991	BBWAA	2
1989	Gaylord Perry	BBWAA	68.01%	1991	BBWAA	2
1990	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	57.88%	1996	Veterans	6
1990	Fergie Jenkins	BBWAA	66.67%	1991	BBWAA	1
1990	Gaylord Perry	BBWAA	72.07%	1991	BBWAA	1
1991	Jim Bunning	BBWAA	63.66%	1996	Veterans	5
1991	Rollie Fingers	BBWAA	65.69%	1992	BBWAA	1
1992	Orlando Cepeda	BBWAA	57.21%	1999	Veterans	7
1992	Tony Perez	BBWAA	50.00%	2000	BBWAA	8
1993	Orlando Cepeda	BBWAA	59.57%	1999	Veterans	6
1993	Phil Niekro	BBWAA	65.72%	1997	BBWAA	4
1993	Tony Perez	BBWAA	55.08%	2000	BBWAA	7
1994	Orlando Cepeda	BBWAA	73.63%	1999	Veterans	5
1994	Phil Niekro	BBWAA	60.00%	1997	BBWAA	3
1994	Tony Perez	BBWAA	57.80%	2000	BBWAA	6
1994	Don Sutton	BBWAA	56.92%	1998	BBWAA	4
1995	Phil Niekro	BBWAA	62.17%	1997	BBWAA	2
1995	Tony Perez	BBWAA	56.30%	2000	BBWAA	5
1995	Don Sutton	BBWAA	57.39%	1998	BBWAA	3
1996	Phil Niekro	BBWAA	68.30%	1997	BBWAA	1
1996	Tony Perez	BBWAA	65.74%	2000	BBWAA	4
1996	Don Sutton	BBWAA	63.83%	1998	BBWAA	2
1997	Tony Perez	BBWAA	65.96%	2000	BBWAA	3
1997	Don Sutton	BBWAA	73.15%	1998	BBWAA	1
1998	Tony Perez	BBWAA	67.86%	2000	BBWAA	2
1999	Carlton Fisk	BBWAA	66.40%	2000	BBWAA	1
1999	Tony Perez	BBWAA	60.76%	2000	BBWAA	1
2001	Gary Carter	BBWAA	64.85%	2003	BBWAA	2
2002	Gary Carter	BBWAA	72.67%	2003	BBWAA	1

No one’s ever had to wait as long as Hodges (Huggins waited 19 years but got in as a manager). I have a feeling that Hodges is stuck between a rock and a hard place as both the writers and the veterans became more stingy with their love for, shall we say, more mature candidates. Anyway, it does appear that if 50% of the writers vote for a candidate, he has an excellent chance of one day getting chosen, or at least that was the case in the past. We’ll have to see about Rice, Sutter, and Dawson, who do have OK support on the writers’ ballot. Let’s also check out 25% while we here. To quote John Winger as he told Dexey Oxburger when he refused to continue a mud-wrestling match, “You’re already dirty.” Here are the players who received 25% but not 50% of the vote and yet failed to get elected. It’s not nearly as promising as the 50% list:

Yr	Name	PCT
1982	Gil Hodges	49.40%
2003	Ryne Sandberg	49.19%
1970	Gil Hodges	48.33%
2001	Bruce Sutter	47.57%
1988	Tony Oliva	47.31%
2002	Andre Dawson	45.34%
2001	Rich Gossage	44.27%
1998	Ron Santo	43.13%
1988	Roger Maris	43.09%
2002	Rich Gossage	43.01%
1998	Jim Rice	42.92%
1987	Roger Maris	42.62%
1995	Steve Garvey	42.61%
2003	Lee Smith	42.34%
2003	Rich Gossage	42.14%
1986	Roger Maris	41.65%
1993	Steve Garvey	41.61%
1998	Steve Garvey	41.23%
1992	Tony Oliva	40.70%
1972	Gil Hodges	40.66%
1981	Maury Wills	40.65%
1970	Marty Marion	40.00%
1988	Harvey Kuenn	39.34%
1997	Ron Santo	39.32%
1987	Tony Oliva	38.74%
2000	Bruce Sutter	38.48%
1979	Maury Wills	38.43%
1980	Maury Wills	37.92%
1997	Jim Rice	37.63%
1996	Steve Garvey	37.23%
1993	Tony Oliva	37.12%
1996	Ron Santo	37.02%
1993	Ron Santo	36.64%
1994	Steve Garvey	36.48%
1986	Tony Oliva	36.24%
1996	Tony Oliva	36.17%
1991	Tony Oliva	36.12%
1955	Hank Gowdy	35.86%
2003	Joe Torre	35.80%
1975	Phil Cavarretta	35.64%
1996	Jim Rice	35.32%
1997	Steve Garvey	35.31%
1987	Harvey Kuenn	34.87%
1994	Tony Oliva	34.73%
2001	Steve Garvey	34.17%
1971	Marty Marion	34.17%
1975	Johnny Sain	33.98%
1986	Harvey Kuenn	33.88%
1968	Allie Reynolds	33.57%
1973	Marty Marion	33.42%
2000	Rich Gossage	33.27%
1994	Ron Santo	32.97%
1969	Marty Marion	32.94%
1985	Roger Maris	32.41%
1995	Tony Oliva	32.39%
2000	Steve Garvey	32.06%
1990	Tony Oliva	31.98%
1985	Harvey Kuenn	31.65%
1992	Ron Santo	31.63%
1968	Marty Marion	31.45%
1998	Bruce Sutter	31.08%
1988	Luis Tiant	30.91%
1967	Marty Marion	30.82%
1984	Tony Oliva	30.77%
1971	Allie Reynolds	30.56%
1978	Maury Wills	30.34%
1972	Marty Marion	30.30%
1995	Ron Santo	30.22%
1989	Tony Oliva	30.20%
1999	Steve Garvey	30.18%
1967	Johnny Vander Meer	29.79%
1995	Jim Rice	29.78%
1995	Bruce Sutter	29.78%
1988	Maury Wills	29.74%
1970	Allie Reynolds	29.67%
2003	Maury Wills	29.63%
1993	Jim Kaat	29.55%
1979	Roger Maris	29.40%
1999	Jim Rice	29.38%
1970	Johnny Vander Meer	29.33%
2003	Bert Blyleven	29.23%
1986	Maury Wills	29.18%
1996	Bruce Sutter	29.15%
1985	Tony Oliva	28.86%
1980	Roger Maris	28.83%
1969	Allie Reynolds	28.82%
1969	Joe Gordon	28.53%
1966	Marty Marion	28.48%
2002	Steve Garvey	28.39%
2001	Tommy John	28.35%
2001	Don Mattingly	28.16%
1969	Johnny Vander Meer	27.94%
1968	Johnny Vander Meer	27.92%
2003	Steve Garvey	27.82%
1974	Allie Reynolds	27.67%
1997	Bruce Sutter	27.48%
1987	Maury Wills	27.36%
1971	Johnny Vander Meer	27.22%
1968	Joe Gordon	27.21%
2000	Tommy John	27.05%
2001	Jim Kaat	26.99%
2002	Tommy John	26.91%
1984	Roger Maris	26.55%
1972	Allie Reynolds	26.52%
1992	Jim Kaat	26.51%
1967	Allie Reynolds	26.37%
1970	Joe Gordon	26.33%
1984	Harvey Kuenn	26.30%
2002	Bert Blyleven	26.27%
2003	Jim Kaat	26.21%
1991	Ron Santo	26.19%
2003	Vada Pinson	25.93%
1984	Maury Wills	25.81%
1989	Harvey Kuenn	25.73%
1992	Maury Wills	25.58%
1988	Ken Boyer	25.53%
1988	Mickey Lolich	25.53%
1956	Hank Gowdy	25.39%
1964	Mel Harder	25.37%
1964	Johnny Vander Meer	25.37%
1988	Ron Santo	25.29%
2000	Jim Kaat	25.05%

OK, so do the veterans look for the strongest candidates among the writers’ votes, those that got strong support but somehow fell through the cracks? Let’s look at the writers’ voting percentage, high and low, for the veterans’ selections:

Inducted	voted by	Name	Low	High
1978	Veterans	Addie Joss	0.37%	14.16%
1977	Veterans	Amos Rusie	0.40%	3.05%
1985	Veterans	Arky Vaughan	0.38%	28.98%
2000	Veterans	Bid McPhee	0.00%	0.00%
2001	Veterans	Bill Mazeroski	6.07%	42.33%
1961	Veterans	Billy Hamilton	0.43%	0.43%
1975	Veterans	Billy Herman	0.83%	20.21%
1986	Veterans	Bobby Doerr	0.76%	25.00%
1953	Veterans	Bobby Wallace	0.50%	2.67%
1939	Old Timers	Buck Ewing	0.73%	0.73%
1964	Veterans	Burleigh Grimes	0.36%	34.20%
1939	Old Timers	Cap Anson	0.00%	0.00%
1939	Old Timers	Charley Radbourn	0.00%	0.00%
1971	Veterans	Chick Hafey	0.43%	10.78%
1953	Veterans	Chief Bender	0.88%	44.72%
1980	Veterans	Chuck Klein	2.48%	27.86%
1945	Old Timers	Dan Brouthers	0.00%	0.00%
1971	Veterans	Dave Bancroft	0.36%	16.17%
1975	Veterans	Earl Averill	0.65%	5.26%
1970	Veterans	Earle Combs	0.40%	15.99%
1945	Old Timers	Ed Delahanty	7.52%	52.92%
1946	Old Timers	Ed Walsh	8.85%	55.47%
1962	Veterans	Edd Roush	0.43%	54.28%
1946	Old Timers	Eddie Plank	10.22%	27.04%
1963	Veterans	Elmer Flick	0.38%	0.38%
1985	Veterans	Enos Slaughter	15.69%	68.87%
1963	Veterans	Eppa Rixey	0.40%	52.79%
1986	Veterans	Ernie Lombardi	1.33%	16.42%
1955	Veterans	Frank Baker	0.44%	30.43%
1946	Old Timers	Frank Chance	2.21%	74.26%
1945	Old Timers	Fred Clarke	0.44%	24.89%
1976	Veterans	Freddie Lindstrom	0.65%	4.38%
1998	Veterans	George Davis	0.00%	0.00%
1983	Veterans	George Kell	3.56%	36.81%
1973	Veterans	George Kelly	0.62%	1.86%
1968	Veterans	Goose Goslin	0.40%	13.47%
1979	Veterans	Hack Wilson	0.36%	38.34%
1992	Veterans	Hal Newhouser	1.33%	42.82%
1971	Veterans	Harry Hooper	1.19%	2.99%
1964	Veterans	Heinie Manush	0.65%	9.38%
1945	Old Timers	Hugh Duffy	3.48%	33.05%
1945	Old Timers	Hughie Jennings	1.99%	37.25%
1946	Old Timers	Jack Chesbro	0.38%	2.19%
1971	Veterans	Jake Beckley	0.43%	0.43%
1946	Old Timers	Jesse Burkett	0.50%	1.72%
1970	Veterans	Jesse Haines	0.36%	8.27%
1974	Veterans	Jim Bottomley	2.65%	33.09%
1996	Veterans	Jim Bunning	33.25%	74.24%
1945	Old Timers	Jim O'Rourke	0.00%	0.00%
1945	Old Timers	Jimmy Collins	25.66%	48.99%
1971	Veterans	Joe Kelley	0.36%	0.43%
1946	Old Timers	Joe McGinnity	5.97%	25.32%
1977	Veterans	Joe Sewell	0.38%	8.55%
1946	Old Timers	Joe Tinker	4.38%	22.28%
1963	Veterans	John Clarkson	0.38%	0.38%
1964	Veterans	John Ward	0.00%	0.00%
1946	Old Timers	Johnny Evers	2.65%	54.46%
1981	Veterans	Johnny Mize	4.58%	43.61%
1949	Old Timers	Kid Nichols	0.38%	2.55%
1968	Veterans	Kiki Cuyler	2.48%	33.83%
1945	Old Timers	King Kelly	0.00%	0.00%
1998	Veterans	Larry Doby	0.33%	3.42%
1972	Veterans	Lefty Gomez	0.62%	46.11%
1967	Veterans	Lloyd Waner	0.44%	23.38%
1939	Special El	Lou Gehrig	22.57%	22.57%
1961	Veterans	Max Carey	0.40%	51.13%
1973	Veterans	Mickey Welch	0.00%	0.00%
1949	Old Timers	Mordecai Brown	2.65%	27.04%
1997	Veterans	Nellie Fox	10.83%	74.68%
1999	Veterans	Orlando Cepeda	10.12%	73.63%
1984	Veterans	Pee Wee Reese	5.23%	47.94%
1994	Veterans	Phil Rizzuto	0.52%	38.40%
1965	Veterans	Pud Galvin	0.00%	0.00%
1955	Veterans	Ray Schalk	1.77%	45.02%
1964	Veterans	Red Faber	0.38%	30.86%
1989	Veterans	Red Schoendienst	19.12%	42.60%
1995	Veterans	Richie Ashburn	2.12%	41.69%
1984	Veterans	Rick Ferrell	0.37%	0.52%
1945	Old Timers	Roger Bresnahan	20.80%	53.85%
1976	Veterans	Roger Connor	0.00%	0.00%
1972	Veterans	Ross Youngs	4.42%	22.36%
1971	Veterans	Rube Marquard	0.44%	13.94%
1946	Old Timers	Rube Waddell	14.60%	65.33%
1957	Veterans	Sam Crawford	0.44%	4.20%
1963	Veterans	Sam Rice	0.38%	53.16%
1974	Veterans	Sam Thompson	0.00%	0.00%
1969	Veterans	Stan Coveleski	0.38%	12.78%
1964	Veterans	Tim Keefe	0.00%	0.00%
1946	Old Timers	Tommy McCarthy	0.00%	0.00%
1991	Veterans	Tony Lazzeri	0.40%	33.16%
1982	Veterans	Travis Jackson	0.40%	7.25%
1995	Veterans	Vic Willis	0.00%	0.00%
1969	Veterans	Waite Hoyt	0.36%	19.17%
1959	Veterans	Zack Wheat	0.81%	22.98%
Avg (>0)			3.59%	27.95%

Well, it doesn’t seem as if the vets are swayed much by the writers. However, perhaps that has changed over time. Let’s take a look at the totals by decades based on retirement year:

Decade	Count	Low	High
1890s	12	0.49%	4.72%
1900s	15	3.06%	12.26%
1910s	14	2.37%	25.85%
1920s	9	2.49%	34.22%
1930s	21	1.67%	19.95%
1940s	8	0.89%	21.09%
1950s	8	4.00%	38.36%
1960s	3	10.69%	52.99%
1970s	4	17.56%	61.01%
Total	94	3.02%	23.49%

It seems that the veterans are starting to listen to the writers more, but then again they are getting pickier as well. It did take them some time after the Thirties glut to get more in tune with the writers, too.

Let’s also look at the progression of the veterans’ choices when they were still in the hands of the writers:

Eligibility	#	Avg PCT
1st yr	79	14.04%
2nd yr	57	9.97%
3rd yr	57	12.81%
4th yr	40	17.01%
5th yr	22	13.91%
6th yr	31	14.68%
7th yr	37	22.45%
8th yr	27	17.04%
9th yr	39	17.17%
10th yr	46	23.50%
11th yr	48	25.39%
12th yr	43	18.90%
13th yr	38	19.59%
14th yr	38	19.38%
15th yr	38	16.00%
16th yr	24	10.82%
17th yr	23	11.67%
18th yr	21	13.69%
19th yr	17	15.86%
20th yr	18	19.04%
21st yr	5	28.40%
22nd yr	10	19.83%
23rd yr	2	47.63%
24th yr	10	19.38%
25th yr	2	52.45%
26th yr	5	20.88%

To be continued…

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